Button



(No Model.)

W. STARLEY.

, BUTTON. No. 388,156. Patented May 22, 1888.

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VJILLIAM STARLEY, OF COVENTRY, COUNTY OF \VARYVICK, ENGLAND, AS- SIGNOR TO ALBERT H. OVERMAN, OF NEYVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUTTON.

SPECIPiCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,156, dated May 22, 1888..

Application filed June "27, 1887. Serial No. 242,615.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM STARLEY, residing at Coventry, in the county of Warwick, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttons; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in buttons, the object being to produce an article of simple and durable construction, easy operation, and forming a convenient and reliable fastening, which may be worn in perfect J comfort in any part of the dress.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a button having a flattened shank, a tapering shoe eecentrically secured, as shown, to one end thereof, and a plate or disk having asmooth outer face centrally secured to the other end of the shank.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in elevation of my improved button, looking at one side of its shank. Fig. 2 is a similar view looking at one edge of the shank and toward the toe of the shoe. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the button. Fig. at is a view showing the application of the button to a piece of fabric,with the toe of the shoe in line with a button'hole therein. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the button turned to reverse the shoe end for end to carry the toe thereof away from the button-hole; and Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the position of the shank in the button-hole to prevent the button from turning, the shoe of the button being cut away.

As herein shown, the shank A of the button has the form in transverse section of a long narrow ellipse. Its particular form, however, is immaterial, so long as it is made longer than wide and with rounded edges, so as not to cut the fabric in contact with it. A thin tapering shoe, B, having a rounded heel, C, and a pointed toe, D, with an inclined under face, E, is located upon the outer edge of such shank, with the end of its heel very slightly overhanging one edge and its toe extending farther and well beyond the other edge thereof, the shoe being therefore parallel (No model.)

with the longest diameter of the shank. The shoe is thin proportional to its width, and its outer surface is nearly flat, being slightly rounded.

A plate or disk, F, centrally located upon the inner end of the shank has asmooth outer surface, like the corresponding part of an ordi' nary button.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6, illustrating the practical operation of my improved button, show a piece of fabric, G, provided with a buttonhole, H, having its outer end, I, made larger than its inner end, J, as is often done.

To apply the button the shoe thereof and the button-hole are brought into line and the former passed through the latter. The shoe is then grasped between the fingers and reversed end for end, the shank and disk turning with it, whereby its toe is turned away from the button-hole. With the toe of the shoe thus carried beyond the range of the buttonhole it is practically impossible to disengage the fabric from the button except by the reversal of the latter, and normally this is prevented by its elongated shank.

To separate the fabric and button the shoe is grasped and reversed end for end, whereby its toe is again brought into line with the button-hole, after which the separation is readily effected without straining or pulling the fabric, the heel of the shoe leaving the button-hole before the toe thereof leaves the same. Here it may be noted that the overhanging end of the heel is too narrow to offer anyobstruction to the ready separation of the button and fabric. By making the shoe very thin the button is adapted to be worn with perfect comfort and convenience in any part of the dress.

I am aware that a glove-fastener having a tapering shoe is not new, that it is not new to provide a button with a flattened post and an arm or horn at right angles to the longest axis thereof, and that a tapering shoe has before been secured to a flattened shank having a plate eccentricall y attached to its opposite end. I do not, therefore, broadly claim a tapering shoe combined with a flattened shank, but only the particular combination shown and described herein.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters In testimony whereof I have signed thisspeoi- IO Patent, is fieation in the presence of two subscribing Wit- A button having a flattened shank, a tapernesses. ing shoe eccentric-ally secured, as shown,to 5 one end of the shank and parallel with the -WILLlAlWSTARLEY.

longest axis thereof, and a plate or disk having a smooth outer face centrally secured to XVitnesses: the other end of the shank, substantially as BENJAMIN PooLE, set forth. JAMES J. PRENTIoE, 

